SC has done what is thought best for implementing July 18 judgement: Justice Lodha

New Delhi [India], Oct. 21 (ANI): Justice (Retd.) R.M. Lodha on Friday hailed the Supreme Court's interim verdict in the present logjam between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Lodha panel, saying the apex court has done what it thought was best for the implementation of its July 18 judgement. "The Supreme Court has done what it thought was best for implementation of its judgement dated 18 July 2016," Justice (Retd.) Lodha told ANI. "Let me see the text of the order, only then I will be able to understand what mandate has been given to the committee. Then we will see to what extent the BCCI allows committee to carry out the order," he added. Earlier in the day, the top court directed the BCCI not to release funds until the state associations file an affidavit implementing recommendations of Lodha panel. Issuing the direction, the apex court said the state cricket associations cannot get any money from the national cricket body till the time they follow the Lodha committee's recommendations. The top court also asked the Lodha panel to appoint an independent auditor to scrutinise BCCI's accounts and also to fix a limit on the financial transactions of the cricket board. BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke have also been asked to file a compliance report affidavit within two weeks regarding the implementation of the cricket reforms suggested by the apex-court appointed panel. The Lodha panel would also fix a limit on the monetary value of contracts, which the BCCI can enter into, with a condition that all contracts above this limit would be approved by the panel. The court will next hear the matter next on December 5. The BCCI president has been asked to personally appear before the apex court during the next hearing. The order is likely to affect the award of contract for the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other tournaments as the apex court empowers the Lodha panel to fix a ceiling. The Supreme Court would also apprise International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Shashank Manohar of its orders. The Lodha panel recommended, among other things, age and tenure restrictions for top officials as well as banning them from serving successive terms. (ANI)